Alabama and Miami have joined Louisiana Tech, LSU and Ole Miss in pursuit of the Central-Baton Rouge standout, who said he still hopes to don the purple and gold for years to come, but wants to make sure he isn't left completely scrambling if his recruitment experiences some shakeup.

"I'm opening up my options a little bit, but I'm still committed," he said. "I really wanna go there, but I'm opening up my options, just because of a backup plan. You never know what's gonna go on in recruiting."

Other prospects have found themselves with little time to find new homes after losing scholarship offers from programs to which they'd been committed in some case for months.

Dutchtown Coach Benny Saia was livid just earlier this year when receivers Corey McBride and Torrance Mosley suddenly found themselves in a rush of uncertainty just days before National Signing Day after having committed to Arkansas.

The Griffins' duo ultimately ended up with a landing spot in TCU that Saia felt might've been a better situation anyway, but Henry's point stands: The recruiting landscape can change on a prospect in a hurry.

Alabama and Miami have shown increased interest in the Wildcats' defensive leader this spring.

"Miami and Alabama have been — big-time," he said. "(Alabama) had been there, but they started really coming after me during spring (football). They came and watched me during spring, and after that, they've been on me."

Henry and Central teammate Terrell Chatman also visited Miami together just three weeks ago, and both returned to Louisiana impressed.

"The way they treat each other, it's like a family," Henry said. "We went behind the coaches' backs and asked the players how the relationship is, and they said, 'It's like a family,' and everybody said, 'It's like a brotherhood.'"

Regardless of the outcome, the opportunities aligning — from Ruston, La., and Oxford, Miss., to Baton Rouge and Miami and potentially Tuscaloosa, Ala. — in many ways still amazing to the 6-foot-1, 217-pound safety.

"I noticed (the potential), but I didn't really think it would get to that level," he said. "To be honest, I just realized I could play college football my sophomore year going into my junior year. That's when I realized, 'The talent was there. I've just gotta keep working.'"

Henry wasted little time cracking a smile and providing an answer when asked which of his attributes have most impressed college coaches.

"How physical I am," he said. "I mean, I can jam at the line, and I can come up and make the tackle, and I can jump with the best of 'em."

But Henry will also continue working to better his game in a variety of ways — and in particular, his 4.7-second 40-yard dash speed.

"My speed, first," he said. "I wanna get my speed right for college, and I think just be an all-around ball player, because you never can stop working to be better at something that you do — just all-around."